Award-winning Court of Protection Costs Specialists
What is a Court of Protection costs draftsman?
A Court of Protection costs draftsman is a specialist professional who prepares Bills of Costs for legal work undertaken in relation to Court of Protection matters. These may include Deputyship applications, ongoing management of property and affairs, Statutory Wills, Trustee Act applications and gifting applications.
The role of the draftsman is to present the completed work and its associated costs in a manner that is fully compliant with Court rules, well-evidenced, and persuasive. The aim is always to maximise recovery and minimise the risk of reduction during assessment.
This guide explains:
If you are looking for an experienced partner, A&M Bacon provides a full range of Court of Protection costs drafting services, working with legal professionals and deputies across England and Wales.
At its core, the work of a Court of Protection costs draftsman involves preparing Bills of Costs for submission to the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO). These documents formally record the time, effort and expenses involved in acting on behalf of a protected party (P) and provides the foundation for recovering fees, most commonly from P’s funds..
A skilled costs draftsman will:
In other words, a good draftsman does far more than simply “fill in a bill”. They help present the strongest possible case for full and fair recovery.
An experienced costs draftsman should be able to support you with the full range of COP costs work and provide advice on optimising recovery. The key services typically include:
Preparing and drafting formal Bills of Costs is the core service provided. This includes:
The draftsman will ensure that each bill is complete, clear and in line with Court requirements.
When assessment by the SCCO is required, the draftsman supports you through the process, including:
Where matters proceed to a more formal appeal hearing, the draftsman can arrange expert representation to argue your case effectively.
This ensures that the costs claimed are fully defended and recovery maximised.
For legal teams seeking a fully outsourced solution, many draftsmen (including A&M Bacon) offer a complete “cradle to grave” service, managing the entire cost recovery process on your behalf:
Increasingly, COP E-Bills can be filed electronically. Your draftsman should be fully equipped to manage e-filing, ensuring compliance and avoiding delays. All of our clients currently instruct us to prepare COP E-bills, as opposed to the old paper bill.
Preparing Bills of Costs for Deputyship work is a key area of focus:
An experienced draftsman will know how to present Deputyship work clearly and effectively and will understand the SCCO’s expectations.
A good draftsman will continue to support you after assessment, ensuring that:
This aftercare can make a significant difference to your ultimate recovery.
Charging models for Court of Protection costs draftsman services can vary considerably between providers. Some firms operate on an hourly rate or offer fixed-fee packages for bill preparation, while others, including A&M Bacon, take a different approach, charging a percentage of the costs claimed.
In our experience, this percentage-based model offers a more effective alignment between the interests of the draftsman and the deputy, and perhaps most crucially P. With this in mind, we subject our fees to assessment by the SCCO in the same way as your own costs. Further, given our fee for drafting the bill is paid from P’s estate, in the vast majority of cases, we will limit our fee to that as assessed by the SCCO, ensuring P only pays what is reasonable. We believe in providing complete clarity and transparency in relation to our fees, be they our fixed fee for assessment support and/or for drafting and preparing informal letters of appeal. We will only undertake any work once you are happy with our proposed fee.
When choosing a draftsman, it is important to look beyond the headline fees. Factors that should influence your decision include:
Choose a draftsman who specialises in Court of Protection work, not one for whom it is a sideline.
A specialist will be familiar with the nuances of Court of Protection and SCCO practice, relevant case law, and the intricacies of what is likely to be recoverable.
At A & M Bacon, our sole focus is on the drafting and recovery of Court of Protection costs.
Ultimately, the quality of drafting and the care taken in preparing bills will affect your recovery rates.
It is often false economy to choose the cheapest provider, and the difference in recovery may outweigh any savings on drafting fees.
A good draftsman should be transparent and honest about turnaround times and stick to them.
Consistency is key: failure to deliver on promised timescales can cause unnecessary delays for your practice.
Look for a provider who offers clear communication and genuine aftercare, including help with:
At A&M Bacon, we are proud to provide a trusted, specialist service to solicitors, deputies and legal teams nationwide.
We offer:
We would be happy to discuss your requirements and help you secure the best possible results.
Jenny Walmsley – Costs Lawyer and Court of Protection Costs Specialist
To discuss your cost requirements, please call us on 01733 350880. You can also send your query to us via email by completing the form on our contact page.
A Court of Protection costs draftsman prepares, presents, and manages detailed Bills of Costs for legal work carried out in Court of Protection cases. Their role is to ensure that all time spent and expenses incurred are correctly recorded, clearly justified, and submitted in line with Court requirements, helping legal professionals and deputies to recover fair and accurate fees for their work.
Charging models can vary depending on the provider. At A&M Bacon, we charge a percentage of costs, meaning that you only pay once recovery is achieved, unless otherwise agreed. This approach ensures that our interests are fully aligned with yours and that you do not incur upfront costs. In all but the very rarest of cases we will limit our fee for drafting the bill to that as assessed by the SCCO.
Yes. While both costs draftsmen and costs lawyers specialise in the preparation and presentation of Bills of Costs, costs lawyers are regulated professionals who may also conduct advocacy and certain types of litigation. Experienced draftsmen are highly skilled in drafting and maximising cost recovery, and work closely with legal professionals to achieve the best outcomes. We have a mix of both costs lawyers and costs draftsmen within our team here.
A deputyship costs draftsman specialises in preparing Bills of Costs for work carried out under Deputyship, including both annual management of a protected person’s affairs and specific applications (such as for property decisions or statutory wills). Expertise in this area is essential for securing a full and fair recovery.
The preparation of a draft Bill of Costs typically takes around three weeks from receipt of your file, although expedited services are available if required. Timelines can also depend on the complexity of the case and the level of supporting documentation provided. Unfortunately, there are substantial delays at the SCCO presently, which means matters are being severely delayed. We will always do all we can here to ensure any delays are minimised.
Not at all. Most modern costs draftsman services, including those provided by A&M Bacon, are delivered remotely, meaning we work with clients across England and Wales. Files can be transferred securely via courier or digital upload, making location no barrier to high-quality support.
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